The board and staff of the FunDza Literacy Trust are delighted to welcome Lea-Anne Moses to the team as the incoming director. Lea-Anne officially joins FunDza on 1 December 2021. Lea-Anne brings a wealth of experience in the nonprofit and corporate CSI space to the position. She sits on the board of two other nonprofits – The Reach Trust and Velokhaya – and has an MPhil in Inclusive Innovation from UCT’s Graduate School of Business. She understands the ‘tech for good’ sector and has a keen interest in finding new and innovative ways for FunDza to grow its user base and become increasingly sustainable too. We have no doubt that her energy, ideas and commitment to youth development will help FunDza to blossom.

Xolisa Guzula, chair of FunDza, writes: “The FunDza board is so pleased to introduce Lea-Anne as the new incoming director. We are delighted that someone of her calibre will be joining the FunDza team and look forward to supporting her in FunDza’s continued growth.”

Lea-Anne responds, “I’m excited about FunDza’s enduring mission of improving teen and young adult literacy in South Africa. Thanks to Mignon, the organisation has a solid internal culture of exploration and collaboration, which has resulted in numerous innovations over the past decade. An example of this is using technology to reach more teens and young people, encouraging them to read frequently and for pleasure, unearth and nurture fresh writing talent, and prompt them to learn new skills. This is a strong foundation upon which I, together with the support of our outstanding team, will continue to build.”

We put Lea-Anne in the hot seat and asked her 10 questions to get to know her a little better…

Q: What’s the latest book you’ve read and enjoyed?
L-A: My grandmother’s hands by Resmaa Menakem.

Q: What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
L-A: Pray and meditate, followed by the can’t-wake-up without coffee!

Q: How would a friend have described you when you were in high school?
L-A: An academic, conscientious learner who, while quiet, was never afraid to stand up for the underdog or challenge a teacher.

Q: What advice do you wish you’d been able to give your 15-year-old self?
L-A: Keep going. You are brilliant and more than enough. Embrace the awkward, research-loving outsider that you are; it will serve you well. You will find your circle. P.S. The orthodontic braces really will make a difference!

Q: What do you think about when you’re alone in the car?
L-A: I usually listen to an audiobook or podcast, so my thoughts are mostly related to that subject.

Q: Describe one embarrassing moment!
L-A: It has to be when I learned to cycle in cleats! *hides face* It honestly was a case of “coming to a pavement near you” every time I cycled, as I fell so often! But, thankfully, I persisted and, since then, completed many races wearing my cleats!

Q: What’s your favourite time of the day and why?
L-A: Pre-sunrise. When I was studying toward my Master’s degree, those very early morning writing sessions were peaceful. The world is still and the day ahead seems filled with endless, exciting possibilities.

Q: Who (can be living or dead) would you love to invite for supper?
L-A: My grandparents. They died when I was young. Sadly, I didn’t have the opportunity to ask them questions about their upbringing and life experiences.

Q: Who has had a major positive impact on your life, and how?
L-A: My parents. They instilled in me (and my brother) the value of hard work, keeping your word, being curious about everyone and everything and the power of empathy and love.

Q: What most excites you about joining the FunDza team?
L-A: I genuinely believe in the power of reading and telling stories. Good stories don’t age and can teach us so many valuable lessons. Even now, in the Digital Economy, where data is king, we need to know that it’s stories that bring the data to life. I’m excited to join a well-established team to build on existing and explore new ways to share stories.

Thanks, Lea-Anne, the FunDza team warmly welcomes you and looks forward to working with you in the years to come.